Unit of Competency Mapping – Information for Teachers/Assessors – Information for Learners

MSL975029 Mapping and Delivery Guide
Perform histological tests

Version 1.0
Issue Date: May 2024


Qualification -
Unit of Competency MSL975029 - Perform histological tests
Description
Employability Skills
Learning Outcomes and Application This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge to perform tests and procedures associated with processing and staining tissues for examination of tissue structure and abnormalities by pathologists and scientists to assist with disease diagnosis. The unit covers tests and procedures that are associated with anatomical pathology and may involve the use of automated processors and staining machines. This unit applies to laboratory technicians and technical officers in the biomedical sector. The unit principally refers to techniques performed on human tissues, but many aspects may be relevant to animal and plant tissues. This unit of competency assumes that the technical officer would perform tests and procedures under the close supervision of scientific and/or medical staff. Although a supervisor may not always be present, the technician will follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) that will clearly describe the scope of permitted practice in modifying testing procedures, quality control procedures, interpretation of data, and for communicating test results to people outside the laboratory. Technical workers may need to interrupt their routine work in order to assist with or perform procedures to facilitate rapid diagnosis of specimens from patients in the operating theatre. The involvement of the technical officer in mortuary work will be determined by the workplace. Work of this nature will always be closely supervised by scientific/medical staff.No licensing or certification requirements exist at the time of publication. However, regulations and/or external accreditation requirements for laboratory operations exist, so local requirements should be checked. Relevant legislation, industry standards and codes of practice within Australia must also be applied.
Duration and Setting X weeks, nominally xx hours, delivered in a classroom/online/blended learning setting.
Prerequisites/co-requisites
Competency Field Testing
Development and validation strategy and guide for assessors and learners Student Learning Resources Handouts
Activities 		Slides
PPT 		Assessment 1 Assessment 2 Assessment 3 Assessment 4
Elements of Competency Performance Criteria              
Element: Process tissue
  • Select processor program for routine and non-routine samples
  • Perform equipment pre-use checks on the tissue processor to ensure sample integrity is maintained
       
Element: Embed tissue
  • Perform equipment pre-use check on embedding centre to ensure samples integrity and uninterrupted embedding of processor load
  • Embed tissue types in correct orientation and characteristics that minimise tissue loss and artefacts during microtomy
  • Check tissue for complete processing prior to embedding
  • Apply procedures to prevent cross-contamination between tissues
  • Inspect blocks, reject and re-embed items that do not meet quality control standards
       
Element: Cut tissue sections
  • Check the flotation bath is ready and satisfactory for use
  • Prepare and adjust all external parts of a microtome and associated equipment to accommodate requirements of tissue batch
  • Secure block in microtome following specified safety directions
  • Orientate the block correctly for each specific tissue in order to maintain sample integrity and minimise artefacts
  • Cut thin tissue sections according to needs of subsequent procedures, maintaining sample integrity, minimising artefacts and conserving tissue for further testing
  • Float sections onto water bath to flatten tissues
  • Pick up sections onto microscope slides ensuring patient identification on slides matches that on the block
  • Compare the blocks and sections ensuring the tissue on slides matches that in the blocks
  • Apply procedures to prevent cross-contamination between patient tissues
  • Identify, troubleshoot and resolve common section quality control issues
  • Inspect sections and reject any that do not meet quality control standards
       
Element: Stain tissue sections
  • Prepare labile reagents for immediate use
  • Select reagents for specified technique, ensuring reagent sequence matches standard procedure
  • Stain sections according to method using the required quality control section and accommodating any authorised variations
  • Mount slides using medium compatible with staining technique ensuring no bubbles
  • Examine control sections microscopically to ensure expected staining outcomes are achieved and procedural artefacts are detected
  • Collate and cross-check slides, blocks and test request forms to ensure requirements have been met
  • Attach permanent label with case, specimen and stain details as required by workplace
  • Confirm microscopically that the type/disease is appropriate and still present in the control sections for each stain
  • Approve slides and release to pathologist
       
Element: Process specimens and associated request forms
  • Identify specimens and request forms that do not comply with minimum industry requirements for labelling, identification and test requests
       
Element: Record any discrepancies and indicate what action is required
       
Element: Log acceptable specimens into a laboratory information management system (LIMS) accurately and efficiently, applying required document tracking mechanisms
  • Select processor program for routine and non-routine samples
       
Element: Perform equipment pre-use checks on the tissue processor to ensure sample integrity is maintained
  • Perform equipment pre-use check on embedding centre to ensure samples integrity and uninterrupted embedding of processor load
       
Element: Embed tissue types in correct orientation and characteristics that minimise tissue loss and artefacts during microtomy
       
Element: Check tissue for complete processing prior to embedding
       
Element: Apply procedures to prevent cross-contamination between tissues
       
Element: Inspect blocks, reject and re-embed items that do not meet quality control standards
  • Check the flotation bath is ready and satisfactory for use
       
Element: Prepare and adjust all external parts of a microtome and associated equipment to accommodate requirements of tissue batch
       
Element: Secure block in microtome following specified safety directions
       
Element: Orientate the block correctly for each specific tissue in order to maintain sample integrity and minimise artefacts
       
Element: Cut thin tissue sections according to needs of subsequent procedures, maintaining sample integrity, minimising artefacts and conserving tissue for further testing
       
Element: Float sections onto water bath to flatten tissues
       
Element: Pick up sections onto microscope slides ensuring patient identification on slides matches that on the block
       
Element: Compare the blocks and sections ensuring the tissue on slides matches that in the blocks
       
Element: Apply procedures to prevent cross-contamination between patient tissues
       
Element: Identify, troubleshoot and resolve common section quality control issues
       
Element: Inspect sections and reject any that do not meet quality control standards
  • Prepare labile reagents for immediate use
       
Element: Select reagents for specified technique, ensuring reagent sequence matches standard procedure
       
Element: Stain sections according to method using the required quality control section and accommodating any authorised variations
       
Element: Mount slides using medium compatible with staining technique ensuring no bubbles
       
Element: Examine control sections microscopically to ensure expected staining outcomes are achieved and procedural artefacts are detected
       
Element: Collate and cross-check slides, blocks and test request forms to ensure requirements have been met
       
Element: Attach permanent label with case, specimen and stain details as required by workplace
       
Element: Confirm microscopically that the type/disease is appropriate and still present in the control sections for each stain
       
Element: Approve slides and release to pathologist
       
Element: Maintain laboratory records
  • Complete control stain quality assessment forms to report quality control outcomes
       
Element: File and store samples to facilitate efficient retrieval as required
       
Element: Maintain instrument logs as required by accreditation checks
       

Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assignment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)

Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.
Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Select processor program for routine and non-routine samples 
Perform equipment pre-use checks on the tissue processor to ensure sample integrity is maintained 
Perform equipment pre-use check on embedding centre to ensure samples integrity and uninterrupted embedding of processor load 
Embed tissue types in correct orientation and characteristics that minimise tissue loss and artefacts during microtomy 
Check tissue for complete processing prior to embedding 
Apply procedures to prevent cross-contamination between tissues 
Inspect blocks, reject and re-embed items that do not meet quality control standards 
Check the flotation bath is ready and satisfactory for use 
Prepare and adjust all external parts of a microtome and associated equipment to accommodate requirements of tissue batch 
Secure block in microtome following specified safety directions 
Orientate the block correctly for each specific tissue in order to maintain sample integrity and minimise artefacts 
Cut thin tissue sections according to needs of subsequent procedures, maintaining sample integrity, minimising artefacts and conserving tissue for further testing 
Float sections onto water bath to flatten tissues 
Pick up sections onto microscope slides ensuring patient identification on slides matches that on the block 
Compare the blocks and sections ensuring the tissue on slides matches that in the blocks 
Apply procedures to prevent cross-contamination between patient tissues 
Identify, troubleshoot and resolve common section quality control issues 
Inspect sections and reject any that do not meet quality control standards 
Prepare labile reagents for immediate use 
Select reagents for specified technique, ensuring reagent sequence matches standard procedure 
Stain sections according to method using the required quality control section and accommodating any authorised variations 
Mount slides using medium compatible with staining technique ensuring no bubbles 
Examine control sections microscopically to ensure expected staining outcomes are achieved and procedural artefacts are detected 
Collate and cross-check slides, blocks and test request forms to ensure requirements have been met 
Attach permanent label with case, specimen and stain details as required by workplace 
Confirm microscopically that the type/disease is appropriate and still present in the control sections for each stain 
Approve slides and release to pathologist 
Identify specimens and request forms that do not comply with minimum industry requirements for labelling, identification and test requests 
 
Select processor program for routine and non-routine samples 
Perform equipment pre-use check on embedding centre to ensure samples integrity and uninterrupted embedding of processor load 
 
 
 
Check the flotation bath is ready and satisfactory for use 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prepare labile reagents for immediate use 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Complete control stain quality assessment forms to report quality control outcomes 
 
 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

MSL975029 - Perform histological tests
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Assessment Record Sheet

MSL975029 - Perform histological tests

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: